Moving to United States from Brunei
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Brunei to United States — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Brunei to United States, you would find that United States is 2.3 times more expensive than Brunei overall. A BND96,844 salary in Brunei would need to be roughly $103,574 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°F vs 89°F in Bandar Seri Begawan, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Brunei to United States.
What does your salary buy?
BND96,844 → $103,574
To maintain the same standard of living in United States
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 3.3 times more
Groceries
pay 27.3% more
Transportation
pay 37.4% more
Housing
pay 2.3 times more
Childcare
pay 5.4 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 69.0% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Brunei to United States, and how the trend has changed.
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
Key Indicator Comparison
How Brunei and United States stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Brunei performs better than United States across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Brunei generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United States performs significantly better than Brunei across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Brunei generally does better on infrastructure, though United States leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Brunei generally does better on employment & economy, though United States leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
United States performs significantly better than Brunei across all family life metrics.
Data: Ministry of Finance, Revenue Division, Brunei, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Bandar Seri Begawan | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 88°/74°F (31°/23°C) | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 90°/75°F (33°/24°C) | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/74°F (32°/23°C) | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/74°F (31°/23°C) | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bandar Seri Begawan | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.3°C) | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) |
| Feb | 87°/74°F (30.7°/23.3°C) | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) |
| Mar | 89°/74°F (31.9°/23.5°C) | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) |
| Apr | 90°/75°F (32.5°/23.7°C) | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) |
| May | 91°/75°F (32.6°/23.7°C) | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) |
| Jun | 90°/74°F (32.5°/23.4°C) | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) |
| Jul | 90°/73°F (32.3°/23.0°C) | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) |
| Aug | 90°/74°F (32.4°/23.1°C) | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) |
| Sep | 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.1°C) | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) |
| Oct | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.2°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.4°/23.2°C) | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) |
| Dec | 88°/74°F (31.0°/23.2°C) | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) |
Data:
Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Brunei and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Brunei passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States passport holder visiting Brunei
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in United States than Brunei?
Day-to-day costs in United States run about 38% higher than Brunei on average; specific cities can swing further.
How much money do I need to move to United States?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a BND96,844 comparable salary, that's around $25,894 in United States for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from United States?
With 37.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, United States can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Brunei and United States.
Is United States safe for expats?
Brunei performs better than United States across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in Brunei.
How is healthcare in United States compared to Brunei?
Brunei generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 19.1 in Brunei. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Brunei: 78).
What's the weather like in United States compared to Brunei?
The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 89°F in Bandar Seri Begawan. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Bandar Seri Begawan gets 114.7 in.
What language do they speak in United States?
The official language in United States is English. In Brunei, the official language is Malay.
